Opinions please...

[Septbaby]

I'm having an internal debate about whether or not it is ok as I get larger (currently 29 weeks and feeling like a cooked whale) to use the parent and child spaces at supermarkets etc? I came back to my car the other day and some pillock has parked so close to my door I could only just squeeze in, and I'm just thinking whether I want to be in a position where I might not actually be able to get in the car at some point soon lol!

What do you peeps think? Or have any of you done this before the little one is out in the world? :)

You can park there. Anyone can. They're not regulated like Disabled bays

I've been parking in the parent and child spaces for the last 2 weeks (i'm 35+6)

I've had three occasions where I haven't been able to get in my car due to the person parking too close to me.

I asked my local supermarket and they are happy for me to park there

Pregnant, overspill from disabled, elderly, person struggling on their own with loads of shopping.

Fair play.

Young slim woman buying a tub of yogurt. No. Massive fat sweaty bastard. No.

I squeezed into my car the other day at 39+ with great difficulty only to glance over to the parent and toddler bays to see a woman with a 12 and 14 year old merrily park up. I think that's pushing it a bit.

Been doing it for about a month now due to the very reason a few have mentioned- once some blind dumbass blocked me in, been though I'd made a real effort to park so that my door isn't obstructed (one side near the curb thingy so close, that on "my" side there's a generous gap between my car and the white line).
I even reversed in so it's easier to drive out also. Come back and - ta dah! There, in all it's glory, is this blue builders van at an angle, wheels very much so over the line.
Left a note on his widescreen, and braved a climb across the seats, handbrake, et al. Made it! But from that day on I'm in "parent / child" parking bays. Keeping in mind I'm a shorar*e - my seat is close to the steering wheel, I was lucky to squeeze through the car, then into the small gap between the wheel and seat.
Go for it!!!

Ok I don't feel so intimidated doing it now lol! Was worried the parking police or a know it all might shout at me, and depending on the daily hormonal reading that could end in a number of teary/fiery ways haha!!

Thanks for the reality check :)

im 37wks & tempted to put baby seat in back of car to do this. thought it might take bad look off me waddling into supermarket

In NZ those spaces are specifically labeled for "expectant and new mothers" so I reckon it's totally justified!

Honestly OP I think it's fine. Besides only a very brave person would argue with a hormonal pregnant woman!

I've been using it for about 4 weeks and I am currently 29 weeks. I have sciatica and SPD so I dare anyone walking past to tell me off

Whereabouts ate they labelled that pinpan? I'm in NZ but have only seen ones with the pushchair sign on.

I once got myself wedged between two wing mirrors as forgot how big I was I'd go for it op, the amount of people that park in them who don't need to is crazy, you actually have a good reason

Pretty sure it's at the Countdowns in Canterbury, dontevenblink - I used them when DD was in a capsule. Parking spaces are so much wider here compared to the UK that it wasn't much of a problem even when I was mahoosively pregnant though. (Though that milestone when you become wider front to back than side to side and turning sideways to get through narrow spaces is no longer a good tactic does become a problem in a busy carpark...)

Thanks everyone, I'm going to embrace the parking space and good luck to anyone who tries to stop me lol!

I have accosted many people parking in parent spaces with no or way older children. Drives me mad (especially at the gym, you work out but are too lazy to walk across a carpark??) But I would never confront an expecting lady, you totally have a baby on board. You go on and embrace the parking space. I would be surprised if anyone had an issue.

After struggling out of my car and whacking my belly on my wing mirror in Morrisons car park earlier I am totally going to start using mother and child spaces! I'm 34 weeks and have spd, so moving is not easy now!

There's a car park in Bracknell that has spaces JUST for expectant mothers as well as the other types of spaces. Was brill whilst I was pregnant, although sadly a shopping haven Bracknell is not

I am no where near showing and I had this conversation with my OH just a couple of days ago. I might use the car seat to justify it but I will do it. Spaces are so small these days I get stuck in my car now!!

I'm in Canterbury pinpan, hadn't noticed that though it is most likely me being very unobservant! You are right though, spaces here are so much wider here than the UK that you can normally easily get in and out so don't have to use the parent and baby ones, I only really had problems with my first two pregnancies in the UK. NZ is definitely a lot more baby friendly, the parent rooms in all the malls are fantastic!

It's a small world, dontevenblink!

I don't think that would be right, sorry.

You are the parent of the child that currently resides in your bump.. I'd say that qualifies you for the parent and child space! Go for it.